Towns Picks Cats, Reclassifies To 2014

Towns Picks Cats, Reclassifies To 2014

The top prospect in the class of 2015, Karl Towns, has reclassified to 2014 and committed to Kentucky.

The top prospect in the class of 2015, Karl Towns, has reclassified to 2014 and committed to Kentucky.

From MSG VarsityBETHPAGE, NY – Kentucky picked up a commitment from another top prospect on Tuesday. 7-foot Karl Towns announced at his high school (St. Joseph's, NJ) that he will reclassify from 2015 to 2014 and play for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Towns' held a news conference, which was broadcast live by MSG Varsity.

Quotes from Towns:

Towns on announcing his college choice, and choosing Kentucky:

“It’s just such a relief; the nervousness was building up. Now I get to enjoy the rest of my high school career.”“It (Kentucky) is a great school, with a great kinesiology school. I really respected Coach Calipari and Coach Orlando Antigua.”

Asked if he still would have picked Kentucky if he hadn’t played for Calipari on the Dominican national team this summer:

“I think they still would have been a high choice. It just felt so comfortable when I was there; it just felt like the right choice at the end of the day.”

On how he will be able to stay focused after playing against the likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James this past summer as part of Olympic qualifying:

“I’ll just go in there and do my job. Play the game I know how to play. LeBron told me (after a U.S.-Dominican Republic game in Las Vegas) to just go out there and play like everyone’s LeBron James; I’m going to have to go out there and do that.”

On developing a sky hook as a go-to move:

“I have to thank (Dominican Republic assistant coach) Del Harris for that. He made me so comfortable with that shot. And I put so much work into that.”

On the upcoming season, and being the team’s main focus as opposed to last season:

“I’m really going to use my experience from over the summer. I’m always about the team first. It’s OUR team, not my team. I’m going to go out there and work hard and bring St. Joe’s its second (state championship).”

On which was more nerve-wracking: playing against Kobe and LeBron or making his announcement today in front of hundreds of classmates:

“I have to honestly say being up there (on stage today) was more nerve-wracking. I was there for 2 ½ months with the Dominican team, and I could prepare myself emotionally and physically to play. You’re playing for so much more than yourself—you’re playing for your country, for the Olympics. But those ten minutes up there (on stage)…my calves were shaking, my hands were shaking….